Undoubtedly, every traveller will fall in love with the picturesque Wayanad in Kerala at first sight. Wayanad with its ubiquitous mist, breathtaking meadows, rolling hills and sparkling waterfalls is as alluring as any world tourist spot.
It may be noted that many unexplored destinations in this wonderful hill station are now hogging the limelight. Many beautiful places that witnessed negligible tourist footfalls have presently become sought-after tourist spots. One such quaint place that has surfaced on the tourism map of Wayanad is the enchanting Cheengeri Hills. If you are an adrenaline junkie, then Cheengeri Hills is the right place for you as tourists who love adventure are flocking to this beguiling destination.
Cheengeri Hills is near the Karapuzha dam and 26km away from Kalpetta. As the public transport between Kozhikode and Kalpetta is quite robust, one can reach Kalpetta by bus and from there taxis could be hired to reach Cheengeri Hills.
The pristine hill is about 2,600ft above sea level. The main attractions are the 500m trekking through the leisure trail and the 1.750km guided trek to the hilltop. There are many takers for trekking in the Cheengeri Hills and one can resume trekking after a breather at the base camp.
The climb to the top is nearly 2km and there will be a guide to lead the trekkers to the hilltop. It is noteworthy that the trek to the summit of the Cheengeri Hills is not arduous in any way. Even people with moderate physical fitness can climb the hills without much difficulty and once you reach the top the view is simply breathtaking.
The hilltop presents a stunning 360-degree bird’s eye view of the lush green Wayanad district. The sought-after tourist spots of Wayanad such as Kolagappara, Karappuzha reservoir, Chembra Peak, Edakkal caves and Banasura Hills could be seen from the hill top. The popular Phantom Rock, Edakkal caves and Ambukuthi Hills are near Cheengeri Hills.
In a bid to tap the tourism potential of the Cheengeri Hills, the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) gave a facelift to the region. New facilities such as ticket counter, cloak room, security cabin, rest rooms, pantry block, entry pavilion and multi-purpose block had been put in place. An entrance plaza, cafeteria, VVIP lounge, parking area and toilet block had been inaugurated as part of the project for which the Revenue Department had handed over eight acres of land to the DTPC. The renovated facility had been opened for tourists on December 21, 2020.
Trekking on the Cheengeri Hills is allowed from 6am to 12 noon, and the entry fee for adults is Rs 80 and children Rs 50. Travellers who don’t want to go on a trekking spree can visit the tourist center till 4pm. The entry fee is Rs 30 and Rs 20 for adults and children respectively. The DTPC has pitched tents for those who want to stay atop the hills at night.
While the Chembra Peak, which is in Wayanad forest, and the Brahmagiri Hills, which comes under the North Wayanad Forest Division, are closed for security reasons during monsoon and summer seasons, the Cheengeri Hills is open throughout the year. Wayanad, which boasts of Pookode Lake and Banasura Sagar dam, is undoubtedly a popular tourist destination. Though many tourists are unaware of the Cheengeri Hills, trekking or visiting this picturesque place can only provide fond memories.